Golfer&#39;s audio aid swing trainer

ABSTRACT

The Golfer&#39;s Audio Aid Swing Trainer is a training device that delivers prerecorded audio messages and signals designed to aid golfers in their tempo timing and rhythm during full swing and putting and also aids them in avoiding inappropriate head, shoulder and hip movements during full swing. These audio messages and signals can be erased by the user or their golf instructor enabling playback of a more customized message or signal to better match their optimal swing. The device attaches to the back strap of the golfer&#39;s cap or belt and when predetermined movements of the user&#39;s head, shoulder or hip occur a positional switch is activated and it in turn actuates the recorder to emit the message or signal that had been pre-selected via a selection switch. The device can also be used as a training aid in sports other than golf by attaching the audio aid to the limb of the user and have them throwing a baseball, a football or kicking a soccer ball or football.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of Invention

This invention relates to a training device that aids the golfer's tempotiming and rhythm for their full swing and putting strokes and inaddition assists them in avoiding inappropriate head, shoulder and hipmovements during full swing.

2. Description of Prior Art

Many golfers, particularly beginners, find it extremely difficult todevelop the correct tempo timing and rhythm that results in an optimalgolf swing. In addition they frequently have difficulty in controllingtheir head movement and dropping or dipping their shoulder and hip (rt.shoulder and hip for rt. handed golfers and left for left handedgolfers) while swinging a golf club. Any excessive head movement,shoulder and hip drop or dipping, as well as poor tempo timing andrhythm, usually results in a missed or poorly hit ball. As aconsequence, there has been a plethora of golf aids developed in anattempt to address these problems. These aids for the most part haveeither been too cumbersome, too costly or simply ineffective to beacceptable to the majority of golfers. U.S. Pat. No. 3,729,200 to Hinesis a golf training device that detects any undesirable head movement ofthe player during his or her golf swing. It accomplishes this by havinga flexible cord wound around a reel that is attached to a head peaceworn by the golfer. The free end of the cord is secured to the golf ballby an adhesive. Any excessive head movement prior to ball strike resultsin displacement of the ball whereas in the absence of any excessive headmovement contact may be made between the club and ball so that the ballwill be released from the cord and assume its normal flight. The reelplaced on the visor of the golfer's cap may be something of anencumbrance to some players. However, the major disadvantage of thisdevice is the extreme care that must be required to make sure that theexact length and tension of the cord attached to the ball is preciselyreproduced at each set up in order to detect any head movement prior toball strike. This undoubtedly increases significantly the golfer's setup time in addressing the ball after each shot making the devicesomewhat impractical for most players. U.S. Pat. No. 4,392,830 to Hinesprovides an audio signal to a user indicative of the user's head andshoulders achieving a predetermined relative orientation. In oneembodiment a sensing wire or electrode is secured to the cap or headband of the user and when that electrode makes contact with a shouldersupported sensing wire an audible signal is activated. It's not likelythat many golfers are going to want to wear a vertical sensing wireattached to their shoulder at either a driving range or golf course. Analternative embodiment utilizes a reed switch connected to the cap orhead band which activates an audible signal when it moves past magneticdevices secured to the user's collar or shoulder. This device doesprovide auditory feedback that enables the user to perceive the relativeposition of their shoulder to their head principally at the top of theirback swing and at the completion of their follow through. Though, thisis of some benefit as a training aid it fails to detect undesired headmovement that may occur during the remaining duration of their golfswing. U.S. Pat. No. 4,560,166 to Emerson is a golf training device thatactivates an audible alarm if the golfer's head moves during their golfswing before the ball is struck. A microphone which is attached to thegolfer's cap and aimed at the golf ball to be struck picks up the soundof the golf club striking the ball and actuates an inhibitor switchwhich prevents the alarm from being sounded. Though the microphoneserves a critical function in this training device it could be somethingof an encumbrance by being attached to the very end of the player'svisor. U.S. Pat. No. 5,253,870 to Bedney is another golf device designedto detect head motion. It attempts to accomplish this by attaching arigid elongated rod to a golfer's head band. The terminal end of the rodis bent downward thereby providing visibility of that end to the golferto indicate motion of his or her head when swinging the golf club.Considering the length of the rod its likely to be too much of anencumbrance for most golfers. U.S. Pat. No. 5,251,902 to Federowiczprovides the means for detecting head motion in the form of an audiblesignal indicating to the golfer that their head is beginning to rotatein the direction that the golf ball is being hit. This device byattaching to the side of the user's ear represents the least encumbranceof all of the patents cited thus far. However, it does very muchresemble a hearing aid and as such may deter some golfers from using it.U.S. Pat. No. 5,257,084 to Marsh utilizes infrared sensors andtransmitters along with a reflector attached to the distal end of thegolf club to measure and display tempo and club head speed. To determinetempo, a measurement is made of the time interval between the time theclub head is drawn away from the ball to the time immediately prior toimpact with the ball. Club head speed is measured as the club headpasses between two infrared beams. Both measurements are displayed on anLCD screen. Though these measurements are of importance to the golferthis system does not provide simultaneous feedback to aid the golfer inachieving his or her optimal golf swing. U.S. Pat. No. 5,752,887 toBaldwin is a device that is worn on the golfer's head and provides avisual guide which aids a user to strike a golf ball in a predeterminedmanner. The fact that it comprises an elongated frame that extends downfrom both sides of the user's head makes it quite an encumbrance and notlikely to be acceptable to most if not all golfer's on the driving rangeor golf course. U.S. Pat. No. 6,312,344 to Smith is a golf training aidthat gives the golfer a multi sensory experience by providing sound,smell and a visual means of how the club struck the ball at impact. Thisis accomplished by attaching small explosive cap strips to the clubhead. The golfer can visually determine where the ball impacted the clubhead by removing the strips after the shots have been taken. The golferalso hears the explosion at the time of impact and also experiences theolfactory response from the cap exploding. Though, this inventionprovides the golfer with multi sensory feedback it is not likely to beused on a driving range where others nearby may not appreciate thesounds or smells being emitted from such a device. U.S. Pat. No.6,939,245 to Mullarky is a laser beam device that is attached to thebrim of the golfer's hat and is adjusted to project the laser light ontothe golf ball. It enables the golfer to easily ascertain whether thereis unwanted head movement during the golf swing. This invention iscommendable but it only addresses one fault, unwanted head movementwhereas the invention presented in this application takes into accounttempo timing and rhythm for the full swing and putting strokes plusshoulder and hip dipping as well as unwanted head movement.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a re-recordable audio delivery message systemrelated to golf as well as other sports. The device attaches to the backstrap of a golfer's cap as well as their belt and enables the individualgolfer to elicit pre-recorded embedded audio messages or signals. Italso provides the means by which a golf instructor can erase theembedded messages and record his or her own messages that can then beplayed back aiding the golfer in eliciting their optimal full swing orputting stroke. The tempo timer and rhythm full swing audio messagefavored by some golf instructors is a multi syllable name while forputting it's just the numerals one and two or the tick tock recording ofa metronome. Playback for either of these messages is elicited byactivating a positional switch with slight rotation of the head oppositein direction of the target line. In addition to these two audio messagesa third message may be employed that aids the golfer in avoidingexcessive head movement during his or her swing. It can be in the formof a recorded verbal beep or the actual sound of a beeper. Playback forthis third message is elicited by activating the positional switch whenthe head rotates in the direction of the target line before or right atball strike. This golf aid is comprised of batteries, an off and onswitch, a positional switch, a selection switch, a speaker, a printedcircuit board and a recorder. All of these contents are housed in asmall round plastic case. On the back of the plastic case is a clip onmount that allows the device to be secured to the back strap of thegolfer's cap and/or their belt. The swivel connect between the case andthe plastic clip on allows for clockwise or counter clockwise rotationas well as angular displacement of the case enabling precise adjustmentsof the positional switch so that a predetermined head movement causes itto actuate the playback recording at the most appropriate time. Inaddition to golf this audio aid can be easily adopted to be used in anumber of other sports. By attaching an adjusting the audio aid to astrap around an arm or a leg the audio signal or message can be actuatedwhen the limb reaches a predetermined position that for example augmentsa more perfect throw of a baseball or a football or a more perfect kickof a soccer ball or football.

OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES

Objects and advantages of the present invention are:

-   (a) to provide an inexpensive small, compact and unobtrusive golf    aid for the purpose of helping a golfer develop the correct tempo    timing and rhythm for their full swing.-   (b) to provide an inexpensive small, compact and unobtrusive golf    aid for the purpose of helping a golfer develop the correct tempo    timing and rhythm for their putting stroke-   (c) to provide an inexpensive small, compact and unobtrusive golf    aid for the purpose of aiding the golfer in avoiding inappropriate    head movement during their full swing which so often results in a    miss hit ball.-   (d) to provide a choice of audio messages for the tempo timing and    rhythm which enables the instructor and/or the individual golfer to    record and playback the audio message that best matches his or her    optimal golf swing.-   (e) to provide an audio signal that alerts the golfer to the fact    that he or she has moved their head inappropriately either prior to    or right at ball strike.-   (f) to provide an audio signal that alerts the golfer to the fact    that he or she has moved their shoulder and or hip inappropriately    causing chunking which occurs when the club head strikes the ground    behind the golf ball.-   (g) to provide an inconspicuous golf aid that can be easily attached    and detached from the back strap of the golfer's cap.-   (h) to provide a golf aid that can be carried in the golfer's pocket    or golf bag and used for practicing in a variety of locations such    as the driving range, the golf course or one's own living room or    back yard.-   (i) to provide an audio training aid that can be utilized in a    variety of sport activities such as throwing a ball in baseball,    throwing a pass in football and kicking a soccer ball in soccer.

Additional objects and advantages of this small and unobtrusive golfdevice will be made apparent from the ensuing description and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows the golf aid attached to the back strap of a golfer's cap

FIG. 2 is a combined frontal and side view of the golf aid.

FIG. 3 is a combined posterior and side view of the golf aid.

FIG. 4 is a full side view of the golf aid.

FIG. 5 is a full side view of the golf aid showing the plastic rodswivel/tilt connect between the plastic clip-on and the golf aid case.

FIG. 6 is an inside view of the golf aid.

FIG. 7 is a simplifide diagram of the golf aid.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of the golf aid

REFERENCE NUMERALS IN DRAWINGS

-   1. Golf aid case-   2. Back strap of golf cap-   3. Plastic clip-on-   4. Plastic speaker cover-   5. a. Plastic stop for rt. handed golfer    -   b. Plastic stop for left handed golfer-   6. Swivel stop (clockwise for 5 a; counter clockwise for 5 b)-   7. Plastic rod swivel/tilt connect-   8. Batteries (a,b,c,d)-   9. Microphone-   10. Record or erase button-   11. On/off switch for playback of recorded message-   12. Positional switch-   13. Micro controller chip-   14. LED Recording light-   15. Speaker-   16. Selection switch

DESCRIPTION—FIGS. 1 TO 7

Referring to the drawings wherein a preferred embodiment of theinvention is illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 7. FIG. 1 shows the golf aidcase 1 attached to the back strap 2 of the golfer's cap. FIG. 2 includesthe plastic clip-on 3 and the speaker cover 4. It also shows the plasticstops 5 a and 5 b for the rt. handed and left handed golfersrespectively as well as the selection switch 16. Another embodiment isthe swivel connect 7 which holds the golf aid case and the plasticclip-on piece together. FIG. 5 shows the plastic rod swivel/tilt connect7 between the golf aid case land the plastic clip-on 3 that allows forfine one handed adjustments in rotation and angular tilt of the golfcase 1 while attached to the back strap 2 of the golfer's cap. Thisenables the golfer to obtain the exact amount of head rotation that theywant to actuate the positional switch 12. It is this predetermined headmovement that then elicits the prerecorded audio message or signal. Thefull swing tempo timing and rhythm as well as the putting stroke audiomessages are actuated by a slight head rotation to the right (for thert. handed golfer and just the reverse for the left handed golfer). Theaudio message for avoiding excessive head movement during full swing isactuated by rotating the head to the left (for the rt. handed golfer andjust the reverse for the left handed golfer). FIG. 6 reveals thefollowing contents of the golf aid case 1; batteries 8(a,b,c,d), amicrophone 9, a record or erase button 10, an on/off switch 11, apositional switch 12, a micro controller chip 13, and an LED recordinglight 14. The speaker 15, micro controller (memory) chip 13, positionalswitch 12 and batteries 8 are included in the diagram shown in FIG. 7.

1. An audio aid swing trainer comprising a case, means for attachingsaid case direct or indirectly to a user's body, a swivel connectconnecting said means for attaching is a clip between said means forattaching said case, said case containing means for for recording andplaying at least one audio message or signal, a positional switch foractivating said at least one audio message or signal at a predeterminedposition, means and a selector switch for selecting the message orsignal to be activated.
 2. The audio aid swing trainer device of claim 1wherein said means for attaching is a clip for attaching said case tothe back strap of a golfer's cap or belt.
 3. The audio aid swing trainerdevice of claim 1 wherein said case contains a clip for attaching saidcase to a strap wrapped around a non-golfer user's arm or leg.
 4. Theaudio aid swing trainer device of claim 1 wherein said case containsmeans for separately recording and playing at least one or two audiomessages and at least one to two audio signals and the positional switchcontains means for separately activating at least three of saidmessages.
 5. The audio aid swing trainer device of claim 1 wherein saidaudio message is a two to seven syllable name actuated via saidpositional switch when the head rotates in the direction opposite towhich the ball is to be hit.
 6. The audio swing trainer device of claim1 containing said means for emitting an audible signal wherein saidsignal is a beep actuated via said positional switch when the headrotates in the direction to which the ball is hit prior to ball strikeduring full swing.
 7. The audio aid swing trainer device of claim 1wherein said means for attaching is a clip to a golfer's belt containingsaid means for emitting an audible signal wherein said signal is a beepactuated via said positional switch when the golfer's shoulder and orhip dips down during full swing.
 8. The audio aid swing trainer deviceof claim 1 wherein said audible signal is a metronome tick, tock soundor instead an audible voice message comprised of numbers one, two. 9.The audio aid swing trainer device of claim 1 and 5 wherein said audiomessage is the two to seven syllable name is erased and replaced withthe golfer's or golf instructor's favorite swing thought such as “relax”or “rip it,” etc.
 10. The audio aid swing trainer device of claim 1wherein said case, a clip for attaching said case to a strap around theupper or lower limb of a non-golfing user emits an audible or voicemessage at a pre-determined position of the limb while performing aparticular physical or athletic movement such as throwing a baseball, afootball or kicking a soccer ball or a football.